In the spring 1943, three regiments were raised to form the
"Freiwilligen Lettische Legion" (Latvian Volunteer Legion)
with the exception of the artillery regiment, which did not
arrived until January 1944. General Rudolf Bangerskis, a former
Latvian minister of war was placed in charge as inspector general
and Arturs Silgailis as his chief of staff. Eventually the Latvian
Legion and the Latvian SS Volunteer Brigade (formerly 2nd SS
Infantry Brigade) would served under the VI SS Volunteer Corps.
In November 1943, the Latvian Legion saw action at Novo-Sokolniki,
northern Russia, as part of the 16th Army Group North. The Legion
was regrouped in December 1943, to form a new division called
1st Division of the SS Latvian Legion. The division later became
the
"15. Waffen Division der SS Lettische Nr 1" serving under
XXXXIII Corps of 16th Army. It was composed of: 471 Officers,
1330 NCO's, and 13,192 other ranks.

A Soviet winter offensive was launched that month, and it continued
until February 1944. This encountered ferocious fighting with
heavy casualties on both sides. Meanwhile the 2nd SS Brigade
was upgraded to form the 19th Latvian SS Division. By March
1944, both Latvian Divisions under the VI SS Corps fought together
for the first and last time to control strategic points along
the Velikaya, River. The VI SS Corps suffered significant casualties
after facing eleven Russian Army Divisions. The Soviet offensive
was contained, but preparations for a new offensive was taking
formation by more Soviet forces.

In June, another attack was launched by the Soviets on the battered
positions held by the 15th SS Division located on the banks
of the River Sanukha. With the Soviets pressing forward, the
32nd Regiment ran into the rear of a Soviet Army Corps, and
was almost decimated. By July 1944, the 15th SS Latvian Division
fought another massive Soviet offensive near Ostrova, Estonia
losing two regiments in the process. The withdrawal had been
very costly, reducing the regiments to less than 200 men.

The remnants of the division and the artillery were transferred
to the 19th SS Division and the 15th SS Division was withdrawn
for rebuilding. In August 1944, the surviving cadres of the
15th SS Division were shipped to the SS "West Prussia" Training
Camp in Germany. In September, recruits conscripted in Latvia
and engineers from the SS Training and Replacement Battalions
at Dresden were used to reform the "15. Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS Lettische."

A new SS Artillery Regiment was formed to replace the regiment
left in Latvia. Far from ready in January 1945, the division
returned to the front line to take up positions along the Vistula-Oder
Canal. It fought in Pomerania were again it suffered heavy casualties.
By end of February, the Soviets had broken through to Kolberg
on the Baltic Sea, effectively surrounding other German units
and the remnants of the 15th SS Division that formed part of
Battle Group Tettau (named after the Commanding General of the
Corps, Hans von Tettau). In March German units attempted a breakout
while the 33rd Grenadier Regiment acting as rearguard were the
last to withdraw after blowing up the only remaining bridge
at Dievenow. The 15th SS Division was removed to an area west
of Schwinemuende for refitting. Survivors were sent about 80kms
north of Berlin to Neubrandenburg for refitting and to rebuild
new defensive lines. Some remnants of the division made up battalions
from 32nd and 33rd Regiments to form a Battle Group led by Standartenfuehrer
Janums. This Battle Group was assembled and immediately dispatched
towards Berlin.

On April 24, after repelling several Russian attacks south of
Berlin, a delegation was sent to the American lines to arrange
the surrender of the Battle Group. The next day the remnants
of the unit surrendered to the Americans at Gutergluck. On 2
May 1945, the remainder of the 15th SS Division managed to reached
the American lines near Schwerin, avoiding Soviet capture.
The
15th SS Latvian Division was one of the most decorated foreign
volunteer forces. Who had won no less than 13 Knight Crosses!
This was the highest score of any non-German Legion.

Latvian
Legion Feldpost

The legion cover has a printed "SS-FELDPOST" marking and a local
"RIGA" cancel. This SS cover was mailed to FPN 33857 (SS Signal
Unit 15) on November 1943, by then the Legion was converted
into the Latvian SS Volunteer Division. The cover also shows
the Unit Seal with "Ostland" and "Higher SS and Police Leader-Riga-Hygiene
Institute." Notice the red circular marking with an eight Rfg.
postage due.
Another SS-Feldpost cover mailed by a volunteer using FPN 33857
indicating SS Signal unit. By now the survivors of the division
were sent to west Prussia training grounds for refitting. The
front cover shows SS Circular censored marking and Unit Seal
showing FPN 34636A (33rd Gren. Rgt., 2nd Btl.,1st Co.).

2.
Waffen-Grenadier SS Lettische Brigade

Conscription was applied in Latvia by early September
1942, a draft mobilization was intensified by 1943. In late
1942, the Latvian Security Battalions 19th and 21st from the
Latvian Legion were attached to the German 2nd SS (motorized)
Infantry Brigade. This brigade was an international formation
that included Dutch, Flemish and Norwegian volunteer Legions.
In late January 1943, the Latvian Battalions from the 2nd SS
(motorized) Brigade were rebuilt as a Latvian Brigade. The existing
18th, 24th, and 26th Latvian Schuma Battalions serving in Leningrad
were used to form the Brigade's 2nd SS Volunteer Regiment. The
Latvian 19th and 21st Battalions serving with the brigade were
withdrawn. In January 1943, it was sent for training at Krasnoje
Selo, where they were joined by the 16th Latvian Battalion,
which was one of the first Latvian units serving in the Eastern
Front.

On 18 May 1943, these Latvian Battalions along with the other
three Latvian Legion Battalions were incorporated into the 2nd
SS (motorized) Brigade, and converted into the
"2. Waffen-Grenadier SS Lettische Brigade."
The Dutch, Flemish and Norwegian formations
were removed from the 2nd SS Brigade. The 2nd SS Latvian Brigade
was deployed with Army Group North. It was placed under the
command of SS-Brigadef�Generalmajor Fritz von Scholz, later
SS-Standartenf�Schuldt and Bock. The 2nd SS Latvian Brigade
was engaged in defending the west bank of the Volkhov River
near Leningrad until late 1943.

Latvian
Legion Feldpost

Above shows a Luftfeldpost cover mail to volunteer
in FPN 33595 (SS Vol. Rgt.1, Staff, 2nd SS Bde.). Cover is dated
November 1943 and has local town cancel.

Below is a SS-Feldpost cover mailed by a volunteer in the 2nd
Lett. Freiw. Brigade, FPN 45849B (SS Rgt.1, 2nd Co.). In March
1943, the 1st and 2nd Rgt. Formed the nucleus of the Latvian
SS Brigade.

Feldpost
numbers assigned to the Latvian Legion

The Latvian SS Volunteer Legion was formed by spring 1943. It
was officially dissolved on 1 December 1943. The following is
a list of assigned Feldpost numbers.

By late summer 1943, the Latvian Legion was reorganized as a
Latvian SS Volunteer Division, which included the Latvian SS
Volunteer Brigade. In November 1943, the 15th SS Division served
under the German 38th Corps of the 16th Army. Then in early
1944, the division was placed under the Latvian VI SS Corps.
The Legion regiment numbers were converted for the newly formed
"15th Lettische SS Freiwilligen Division" but the FPN's remained
the same. The following regiments were redesignated:
SS Volunteer Regiment 1 was converted into Grenadier-Regiment
32.
SS Volunteer Regiment 2 was converted into Grenadier-Regiment
33.
SS Volunteer Regiment 3 was converted into Grenadier-Regiment
34.
SS Artillery Regiment was renamed Artillery Regiment 15.
The rest of the formation remained the same with the exception
of the unit number 15 designated in front of each regiment.
The following 15th SS Recruiting Depot Battalions were added
with new FPNs.

In late summer of 1944, the Latvian Division title was renamed
to 15th SS Waffen-Grenadier Division, the regiment numbers and
FPNs were not changed. The 15th SS Division was given the Tactical
no. SS-15 and Kenn no. 568. The following units with FPNs were
added:

SS Artillery Regiment 15 Staff---------------14808

I Battr---------------------- -------------------------23697

II Battr-----------------------------------------------21854

III Battr----------------------------------------------23307

SS Construction Regiment 1 Staff------------58033

I Unit---------------------- --------------------------19058

II Unit-------------------------------------------------05231

III Unit------------------------------------------------16608

SS Construction Regiment 2 Staff--------------13953

Latvian
SS Volunteer Division Feldpost

Interesting feldpost cover mailed by a volunteer in the 3rd
Co. of the SS Engineer's Battalion as indicated by the FPN 38935C.
The unit seal shows FPN 38935A (SS Engineer Battalion).

Feldpost numbers of the 2nd Latvian SS Volunteer Brigade

The 2nd Lettische SS Freiwilligen Brigade was formed by Spring
1943. The following feldpost numbers were assigned to the 2nd
SS Latvian Brigade:.